The Library

Librarian for the day

The library program provides experience with the physical and digital operations of libraries and exposes students to a wealth of children's literature. Students employ the concepts of information literacy in using print and electronic resources—they become adept at identifying tasks, determining the best resources, and accessing, evaluating, using, synthesizing, and citing resources. Assignments and stories read aloud are integrated with classroom thematic or Global Studies curriculum to provide context, enhance relevance, and prepare students for current and future academic demands.

Goals

  • to foster a love of reading and literature
  • to develop information literacy in students
  • to invest students with the confidence and abilities to use any library

Highlights

  • an annual school-wide book swap
  • book fairs coordinated by independent booksellers, offering quality books to the Meridian community
  • fifth grade field trip to the local Seattle Public Library branch to put learning into action
  • volunteer opportunities for students and parents: adopting shelves, checking books in and out, processing books, assisting with projects

Each class comes to the library once a week for a lesson, a read-aloud, check-out, and quiet reading. Students may also visit the library individually, and the Meridian community is invited to check out materials from the regular or family education collection.

Students learn appropriate library behavior and proper care of library materials. They investigate the various sections in the library—fiction, nonfiction, magazines—and how those appear in the physical library as well as online. Students gain knowledge of how the library is organized and how to use the Dewey Decimal System to find materials at any library.

In addition, Meridian students learn about the access and use of electronic information, including Internet safety and “NetSmarts” (“Netiquette,” fraud, hoaxes). By practicing information literacy strategies with search engines, students gain experience in analyzing results and finding materials that are reliable, unbiased, age-appropriate, current, and factual.